Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-02-24
FRESH-WATER TURTLES.
Striking Peculiarities of an Interestin
Species of the Reptile Family.

Striking Peculiarities of an Interesting
Species of the Reptile Family.
Some interesting features are pre-
sented by turtles. They differ entirely
from all other animals. They are en-
closed in a shell, into which many
withdraw entirely. If we examine one
we see that it has two distinct shells;
the upper, or carapace, and lower, or
plastron, which, united, form the box or
house in which the animal lives.
joined firmly to the upper shell, conse-
quently has not the tlexibility seen in
other animals. The ribs also are i'm
movable, and the carapace, or under
protecting shell, is really formed by
the widening of these bones. In the
mouth of the turtle we find two horny
beaks in the place of teeth so that they
nip and crush, inste ad of cutting their
food. Their eyesight is acute, these
organs having third lid, or what is
called nictitating membrane. In
America, north of Mexico, we have
about forty species of these interesting
animals, and they are found in almost
every country that will support life.
The true fresh-water turtles of the
world belong to the order Emvdidg,
and are represented in various chimes
by over sixty species, or different
kinds. They differ materially in APP
pearance from sea-turtles They have
a more or less depressed she'll, though
in some cases it is convex. The toes
are distinct and provided with webs.
and the limbs are organized so that the
turtles can lift themselves some dis
tance from the ground and travel with
considerable speed. The shell is often
brilliantly ornamented. and thorough
protection. being made up of horny
shields. They are generally found
in ponds and streams, resting
on logs or sand-bars, while
some wander far into the woods
in search of food. Their eggs are, as
rule, oblong, and buried, as are those
of the marine forms, in the sand along
shore. to be Matched by the sun.
Perhaps the most familiar form is the
box-turtle, Cistudo, found almost every
where in the United States east of the
Mississippi river. 1t is independent OF
the water, and commonly discovered
roaming through the woods in search
of mushrooms and toadstools. 1t is par
ticularly interesting from the fact that
it can shut itself completely in its house
or shell, the plastron having two lids
joining like cover
In the winter all the northern fresh
water turtles retire beneath the. sur
face; some in the mud, others into
holes which they excavate in the soil,
and they there hibernate until warm
weather returns, neither eating nor
drinking, all the functions being at a
standstill.
While the box-turtle is extremely
mild and peaceful in it's disposition,
the swapping turtle, Chetydra serpent
ina, is veritable bulldog in its ma
ture; striking with it's powerful head,
clinging to its enemy with persistency,
and to show the force of its bite, one
has been known to cut through board
an inch thick with its horny jaws.
Though the snapper has a very
snake-like head it is exceeded in this
respect by the strange Hydraspis
which has a slender neck nearly as
long as its shell; SO long, in fact that it
does not draw in its head like ordinary
turtles, but places it on the side of the
body. When these turtles, swimming
lust under the surface, lift their heads
above water to reconnoitre, the OBJ
server would consider them snakes.
They are confined to the rivers and
streams of Brazil where the
curious bearded or intoxicated
turtle, Chelys naatamata, is found, the
most remarkable of the entire tribe.
This turtle attains a length of three
feet, has long neck ornamented in a
most wonderful manner with barbels
and fringes of flesh, SO that one can
well imagine that it had been over
grown with moss or weed. On each
side of the head are two curious prom
inences that look like ears; above the
mouth is pointed nose-like extension
of the skin; add to this shell resem-
bling rough rock, and we have a Great
ure which certainly must find much
protection in its resemblance to moss
covered rocks Vide Aa0ake.
In Arizona men with fur caps are